Since Mary was born without original sin, and original sin released pain, suffering, and sin upon the earth, and Mary was without it, does that also mean that when she gave birth to Jesus, she did not have normal birth pains?

Answer by Richard Geraghty on 4/8/2013:

Dear Salv,

As you indicated, she had no physical pain. Her joy was unmitigated in that regard. But she also knew that her son was born to suffer. That knowledge was like a sword driven through her heart. Here we have the mystery of how suffering can bring along with it great joy. Christ's agony in the Garden is another example.